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Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PRESERVING THE WORLD’S

CULTURAL HERITAGE

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1. Italy, world leader in the recovery of cultural heritage …………...… pg. 3 2. Culture as a tool for dialogue with other countries …………………. pg. 7 Interview with Director General for Cultural Promotion and Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anna Blefari Melazzi 3. Iraq: a cultural rebirth spoken in Italian …………………………... pg. 11 4. Iran: rebuilding Bam, the Citadel of the “Desert of the Tartars”…... pg.15 5. Afghanistan: an Italian archaeology task force ……………..……… pg.17 6. Italy, one of UNESCO’s blue-helmet forces ………………………… pg.19 7. MFA and MCAA: a successful collaboration …………...………….. pg.21 Interview with Giuseppe Proietti, Head of the Department for Research, Innovation and Organisation of the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities 8.Outline………………...………………………………………………..pg. 23 Some of the most significant archaeological missions

CONTENTS

Editor in Chief: Grammenos Mastrojeni Editorial Staff Ansa News Agency: Alessandra Spitz Arabella Marconi Acknowledgements: Counsellor for the Coordination of Public Communication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Professor Antonio Bettanini The Directorate General for Cultural Promotion and Coopera tion, Director General Anna Blefari Melazzi Counsellor Lucio Demichele Directorate General for the Mediterranean and Middle East Counsellor Carlo Formosa Legation Secretary Damiano Francovigh Legation Secretary Michelangelo Nerini

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“Italy’s friendship and credibility are greatly due to our culture, which is our calling card” Franco Frattini

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Italy world leader in the recovery of cultural heritage

The historic and cultural heritage of any country identifies its civilisation, its national culture and its collective memory. It is something irreplaceable and inimitable, and the international community has a duty to preserve and enhance it for the benefit of all the peoples of the planet . If this is true, it is also true that the objective principle of modern foreign policy is to build a more just and safer planet for all peoples, culture emerges as an integral part of foreign policy and Italy’s authoritative standing in the world owes much to its cultural relations. According to Minister Frattini cultural relations represent “a pillar and founding principle of Italy’s new foreign policy”. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has played a fundamental role in this sector for years now through its convinced support of Italian archaeological, anthropological and ethnological missions abroad. Italy’s internationally recognised competence in the sector of archaeological research and conservation has allowed for the extension over time of those projects, many of which have, indeed, been active for more than 10 years.

Head of Bodisattva ca. 740 A.D. Grey-coloured cast.

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These activities also fall within the objectives of the 1972 “UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage”, of which Italy is a signatory. The Convention’s philosophy is that the joint activities of the international community and individual governments aimed at determining and safeguarding cultural sites of particular value, represents a commitment and desire to contribute actively to development policies and intercultural dialogue. In particular, archaeology and restoration – sectors to which Italy has made a contribution of primary importance – respond not only to the function of preserving an inestimably rich memory and, above all, to the intention of establishing profitable collaborations and scientific and cultural relationships between countries. Supporting our missions thus becomes an instrument of foreign policy and cultural promotion as a result of the collaboration and intercultural dialogue between our archaeologists and foreign scholars. The work of our scholars allows various sites to be safeguarded, thus ensuring the protection of archaeological treasures (underwater ones included), preventing the risk of illegal activities (such as non-regulated excavations) or episodes of vandalism and looting, and guaranteeing the longevity of works and monuments. In many cases, restoration activities have saved decaying or unstable architectural complexes, monuments or artefacts from situations often worsened by the passage of time.

Below, left: Libya. Leptis Magna.

Arch of Septimus Severus.

Below, right: Jordan. Petra. Tomb of the Urn.

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But this activity also looks to a broader horizon: helping every people to preserve the roots of its own identity, which is a contribution that each of us can make to others and the foundation of reciprocal respect, in search of a globalisation with the intention of bringing out the richness of diversity rather than of flattening according hegemonic models. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ cultural heritage conservation initiatives are for the most part concentrated in the Mediterranean basin, but also extend to Eastern Europe, Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and South America, while the fields of research range from Prehistoric to Classical Archaeology, and from Egyptology to Oriental and Islamic Studies. The MFA’s missions – funded either directly through its Directorate Generals or within the broader framework of international cooperation, including UNESCO initiatives – have been numerous. The cultural heritage conservation programmes abroad are funded both by the Directorate General for Cultural Promotion and Cooperation (DGPCC) and by the Directorate General for Development Cooperation (DGCS): more specifically, the former funds all projects carried out by Italian universities, agencies and institutes operating in the sector; the latter funds the Italy-UNESCO partnership, i.e. conservation projects coordinated by the UN. In the year 2003 the DGPCC financed 110 missions in various parts of the world for a total expenditure of 1,540,000 euro. The number of projects financed was notably reduced as compared with 2002, but that year an extraordinary allocation of funds from the DGCS had allowed 178 requests to be granted for a total financial commitment of 4,881,950 euro. Funding in 2004 has gone up as compared with 2003 and the Directorate has chosen to concentrate on large -scale projects and restoration programmes. Aside from those long-term missions that have received support for some time, new projects have been launched, such as the archaeological mission in Baraqish in Yemen, or the Shayzar project in Syria. Under way in 2004 are 81 missions, for a total financial undertaking of 1,728,000 euro. As regards Italy’s undertaking in UNESCO via the Directorate General for Development Cooperation, our country is in first place among

Peru. Ceremonial ceramic Recuay from the Municipal Collection of Chacas.

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“bilateral donors” (with 5.5 million euro a year) and in fifth place amongthe organisation’s largest backers. In 2004 the total funds received by UNESCO from Italy amounted to 38.55 million euro: of these 21.2 were borne by the Ministry for Education, Universities and Research, and 17.35 million by the DGCS. Italy supports many UNESCO initiatives for the conservation and enhancement of international cultural assets both financially and through the contribution of the technical expertise of the Italian Cooperation and the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities. These include the restoration of Mostar’s old city and the reconstruction of its bridge, the preservation of the ancient quarters, monuments and temples in Northern Africa (Morocco and Tunisia) and in South East Asia (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia), and the safeguarding of Angola’s cultural heritage. Remaining in the UNESCO sphere of operations, Italy also takes part in emergency intervention programmes for the safeguarding of “universal cultural heritage” sites such as, for example, its work in the Western Balkans region and in Afghanistan (see article on pg. 17). Other important initiatives are being examined for Iran (conservation of the citadel of Bam, see article on pg. 15) and the preservation of Jerusalem’s old city. Italy’s commitment and the professionalism of its technicians have led to the highly innovative “Italy-UNESCO Declaration on Collaboration in international emergency zones for the protection and conservation of cultural assets at risk as a result of conflict and natural or man-made calamities” (see article on pg. 19). Finally, mention should also be made of the MFA’s generous undertakings in Iraq and immediate intervention as soon as the war was over (see article on pg. 11), along with those of the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities, UNESCO and important private foundations.

The terracotta army

A legion of thousands of fully armed warriors in battle formation arranged in 38 columns. The avant-garde in the lead armed with cross bows, followed by mounted warriors, chariots and then the army itself. All the figures are full human scale and made of terracotta. This is an unparalleled example of ancient Chinese art being restored to its original splendour by Italian efforts.

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Q. The Minister has often said that, “Italy’s owes much of its attraction and credibility in the world to culture, our call ing card”. What are your experiences in this regard? Is it true that culture opens the doors of diplomacy? A. “On the basis of my extensive experience I am able to note that Italy’s cultural heritage is an exceptional calling card for all its diplomats. In addition to art, architecture and literature, our country is appreciated around the world for knowing how to live well, for its highly refined fashion and design output, and for its varied excellent gastronomic offerings. Diplomacy is the art of human relations, of negotiation. Culture is a people’s way of being, its highest form of expression and communication: creating cultural relations with other countries means getting to know and understand each other better, and therefore, carrying out one of diplomacy’s highest and most noble tasks. The activities of the Directorate General for Cultural Promotion and Cooperation, which I have the privilege of heading since February of 2004, are based on a twofold strategy: on the one hand they aim at the ever-increasing dissemination abroad of the Italian cultural model in all its individuality and uniqueness; on the other, it conceives of cultural relations as a link to others, a precious tool for dialogue, communication and collaboration with third countries”.

Culture as a tool for dialogue with other countries Interview with Director General for Cultural Promotion and Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Anna Blefari Melazzi Q. What guidelines does our country follow in the conservation of cultural assets abroad? A. “Italy offers crucial and highly skilled support to UNESCO’s initiatives in the sector of international cooperation for the protection of cultural assets in times of war and peace alike. In this sector, which is UNESCO’s most visible and internationally recognised, our country offers highly qualified intellectual resources – the expertise of lawyers, architects, archaeologists – and noteworthy financial resources. We are in fifth place among the organisation’s donors (with 38.55 million euro in 2003, 21.2 of which come from the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, and 17.35 million from the MFA), and in first place among bilateral donors (with 5.5 million euro a year). Italy is also very active is the archaeological, anthropological and ethnological missions abroad that fall within the objectives of the 1972 “UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage”, of which Italy is a signatory. In 2003 alone there were 114 Italian missions in 45 countries, 110 of which were funded by the Directorate General under my management and four by the MFA’s Directorate General for the Mediterranean and Middle East. A total of 58 of these missions are located in the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East, while 28 are located in Europe, 14 in Asia and Oceania, eight in the Americas and six in Sub-Saharan Africa. They cover fields

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of research ranging from Prehistoric to Classical Archaeology, and from Egyptology to Oriental and Islamic Studies. Archaeological missions are a precious cultural policy tool, especially in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, which are united by a common history. To sum up, Italy’s activities help to strengthen the identity of the country in question and safeg uard its historic, artistic, and also environmental, heritage. Moreover, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities, also carries out important activities in the prevention and repression of illegal trafficking in artworks. A concrete example of the active synergy between the ministries is the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Recovery of Artworks, created in 1995 with the task of internationally promoting the recovery of cultural assets stolen from Italy and smuggled abroad, and this with the support of the Carabinieri Corps for the Protection of Cultural Assets created in 1992. Q. A collaborative partnership has been formed in this sector between the MFA and the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities. What are your respective spheres of activity? A. “The Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs collaborate very closely in the sector of archaeological missions and the conservation of cultural sites abroad in keeping with their specific areas of competence. I have already spoken about the ways in which this collaboration is proceeding as regards the recovery of stolen cultural treasures; as for archaeological missions and the restoration of monuments, the MFA determines the areas that need priority intervention, distributes funding and carries out the necessary diplomatic support operations, while the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities contributes with qualified personnel who carry out the restoration of the chosen monument or train local technicians to do it”. Q. Would you point out a particularly significant project that Italy is taking part in? A. “A brilliant example of Italy’s undertakings in the field of archaeological restoration is the reconstruction of the Bridge at Mostar on the river Neretva, an architectural jewel built by the Turks in 1556, destroyed in 1993 and newly inaugurated in July 2003 as a symbol of peace. But I could also mention our work in Afghanistan and in Iraq restoring and reopening the National Museum in Kabul and the Minaret in Jam, preserving the site of the Bamiyan Buddhas and salvaging the Iraqi cultural heritage.

Egypt. Faiyum Region. Painted mural found in the ancient city of Medinet Madi.

In 2003 alone there were 114 Italian missions in 45 countries, 110 of which were funded by the Directorate General for Cultural Promotion and Cooperation and four by the MFA’s Directorate General for the Mediterranean and Middle East. A total of 58 of these missions are located in the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East, while 28 are located in Europe, 14 in Asia and Oceania, eight in the Americas and six in Sub-Saharan Africa. They cover fields of research ranging from Prehistoric to Classical Archaeology, and from Egyptology to Oriental and Islamic Studies.

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A brilliant example of Italy’s undertakings in the field of archaeological restoration is the reconstruction of the Bridge at Mostar on the river Neretva, an architectural jewel built by the Turks in 1556. The bridge was designed by Ottoman architect Mimar Hayruddi. Destroyed in 1993 during the Balkans conflict, it was newly inaugurated in July 2003 as a symbol of peace.

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We have planned some even more ambitious projects for the future: the restoration of the archaeological city of Bam in Iran – destroyed in a recent earthquake – and the restoration of the Roman monument “Res Gestae Divi Augusti” in Ankara, Turkey. Bearing witness to the respect and admiration that Italy enjoys at the international level in the restoration sector was Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s request on his visit to Rome that Italy undertake the restoration of the Forbidden City – a monument with symbolic value equal to our Colosseum. As for the recovery from abroad of stolen Italian artworks, one of our latest successes has been the discovery in England of an ivory mask, an extremely rare artefact of the 4th-5th century B.C., which has also been displayed in an exhibition at the Auditorium in Rome; noteworthy among the most important foreign works of art recovered in Italy is the precious funeral mask from the royal tombs of Sican in Peru discovered in the spring of this year”. Q. Italy is a leader in handling emergency operations on behalf of national and international natural and cultural heritage sites. Precisely for this reason, its role in UNESCO has been redefined and, indeed, an agreement has been made between Italy and UNESCO: what does it contain, and what advantage will it offer to our country? A. “An Italy/UNESCO collaboration has been forged in the strategic sector of the preservation and restoration of cultural assets at risk of conflict and disaster, both natural as well as man-made. This project foresees the establishment of a joint Italy/UNESCO emergency intervention group – the “Blue Helmets of culture – that includes technicians, architects, engineers, art historians and archaeologists supplied by Italy to intervene in crisis situations”.

The Ivory Mask According to scholars it could be the Mask of Apollo, a 4th A.D. century Greek original, which, along with a dozen other ivory fragments belonging to the large-scale statue, were discovered and carried off by a band of grave-robbers in the Roman countryside. After being placed on the black market, they were finally recuperated by the Carabinieri of the Cultural Heritage Protection Nucleus after a decade of investigation.

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Iraq: a cultural rebirth spoken in Italian

Iraq is the cradle of the ancient Mesopotamian civilisation. The Sumerian, Assyrian and Babylonian civilisations – some of the world’s oldest – sprung up, one after the other, on this strip of land wedged between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The first farming and urban societies were born and flourished here, along with the earliest form of writing. This immense wealth has suffered very serious damage as a result of the recent conflict: ancient Islamic monuments and mosques have been damaged and looted and many artworks ha ve been pilfered. Driven both by ideological and concrete concerns, Italy responded immediately by making massive resources available for the conservation and recovery of Iraq’s cultural and archaeological patrimony, in the firm conviction that the restoration of an important sector such as that of culture can be a new point of departure for Iraq in its economic and social reconstruction.

Iraq. Example of a clay container for keeping documents, closed with a cylindrical seal on which an image was stamped.

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Added to the contribution by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (fruit of a synergy between its various Directorates General), are those of the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities and of major private foundations (such as Telecom). The subsequent interventions have been carried out by highly experienced scientific institutes and experts, such as the Turin-based Centre for Archaeological Research and Excavations (CRAST), the National Research Centre (CNR), the Department of Assyriology of the University of Pisa, the Italian Geo-Archaeological Association and the Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Environment (ENEA). The result is an intervention strategy that stands on a series of essential pillars: the choice was made to start out working on some crucial sites, such as the Museum of Baghdad, the restoration of which has a high symbolic value that, at the same time, gives every other project the potential for extension to other museum and archaeological complexes in Iraq, with the aim of ensuring the future overall enhancement of the country’s extremely rich patrimony. The most advanced technologies available to Italian experts have been brought in and local operators are being trained to take over the activities of conserving and restoring their national heritage. Nevertheless, before restoration could begin it was necessary to recover the museum’s treasures, which essentially involved the intervention of the Italian Carabinieri Corps for the Preservation of Artistic Heritage, which took stock of the missing pieces and supplied Interpol with a list. In total, over three hundred pieces have thus far been recovered and more than 40 looters have been brought to justice. Starting in November 2003 the Carabinieri Corps also began to train Iraqi police personnel (112 men) in Amman, within the framework of the broader UNESCO project for counter-trafficking in works of art and archaeological treasures (with funding from the Directorate General for Development Cooperation). As regards restoration efforts, particular attention has been given to the important cuneiform tablet collection stored in the Museum’s warehouses. A project coordinated by the Department of Assyriology of the University of Pisa should start up soon, which will consist of the cataloguing and virtual reproduction of the Museum’s tablets in the context of a programme funded by the MFA’s Directorate General for Cultural Cooperation and Promotion. A modern restoration laboratory has also been installed at the Museum. This was made possible by the support of the MFA, as well as of the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities (30,000 euro) and

Telecom (120,000 euro in proceeds from a concert given by Paul McCartney at the Colosseum). The programme associated with the restoration laboratory envisages, among other things, a series of professional restoration training sessions, the goal being to make the laboratory autonomous in the space of two years. In the meantime, restoration proceeds on several of the Iraq Museum’s major art works – the Warka Vase and the marble head of a woman from Uruk – and the restoration of its Assira Hall, soon to be reopened to the public, which will surely generate admiration for the manner in which the works have been enhanced thanks to careful study and avant-garde lighting technologies. Restoration is also under way on 23 ivory objects from Nimrud and 15 statues from Hatra (three of which were recuperated from Ctesifon).

Iraq. Museum of Baghdad. Monumental lions.

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Iraq. Museum of Baghdad. Above the celebrated mask of the “Woman of Uruk”, which, along with the Vase of Warka (photo at right) and many other precious objects, is in the hands of Italian restoration experts. It is believed that the Woman of Uruk (3100 B.C.) – also know as the “Woman of Warka” – represents the goddess Inanna of the proto-historic period. The Vase of Warka is of the same period and depicts ritual scenes alluding to rites worshipping the fertility of that great Sumeric mother goddess. The “Woman” was stolen from the museum on April of 2003 and brought back on 23 September of the same year.

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Looking beyond Baghdad, the MFA has also approved funding for a project drawn up by CRAST that foresees the study and mapping of Iraq’s main archaeological sites, so as to assess their state of conservation and promote the resumption of preservation and excavation activities. Some of these archaeological missions – Seleucia, Nimrud, Diyala and Hatra – have also already been approved by the Directorate General for Cultural Promotion, and it is hoped that work will begin as soon as security conditions permit. It should also be stressed that a major portion of our country’s efforts fall within the initiatives fostered by the international community, and those of UNESCO first and foremost. Italian experts have been

participating since the Spring of 2003 in assessment missions organised by the United Nations. Italy was the first country to make UNESCO funds available (one million euro from the Directorate General for Cooperation Development) for emergency interventions, covering, among other things, Iraq’s debt to the Organisation with an ad hoc payment, thus allowing it to access international aid. Future projects With regard to future projects in the context of culture and the recovery of archaeological heritage, following the dissolution of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and the appointment of a temporary administration, Italy knows it can rely on the excellent relations it has forged with its Iraqi partners, and continue to carry out the projects it has undertaken under the best auspices. Precisely for this purpose, a visit to Italy by the Iraqi Minister for Culture is being arranged in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Culture, which will underline the high level of cooperation reached between the two countries in the field of conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage. It is possible also to foresee the achievement during this same visit of an exchange of notes regulating, on new and more suitable bases, the practical aspects associated with the administration and activities of the Italo -Iraqi Archaeological Institute, thus paving the way for a revision of the Scientific and Cultural Collaboration Agreement between Italy and Iraq dating back to 1969. Concerning activities under way in the field, completion is assured of the restoration of the Baghdad Museum, and in particular the Assira Hall, and of the inventory of all the treasures in storage (already completed for the main halls). Again in terms of restoration, particularly significant is the Iraqi request that we assist in the restoration of their Ministry of Culture, for which some ministry personnel training initiatives could follow, as well as the creation of a special unit that will answer to the Carabinieri Corps for the Preservation of Artistic Heritage. Associated with these institution-building activities, are the design for the restoration of the Iraqi National Library and the creation of a publishing house.

Iraq. Object discovered in Nimrud, believed to be the ancient military capital of Assyria

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Iran: rebuilding Bam, the Citadel of the “Desert of the Tartars” On 26 December 2003 a massive earthquake (6.3 on the Richter Scale) struck the region of Kerman in South Eastern Iran, destroying one of humanity’s miracles: the ancient citadel of Bam, an architectural jewel built entirely of the red clay of the Dasht -e Kavir Desert and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating back to the second

The ancient city of Bam (in South East Iran), in a photo taken in September 2002 before it was destroyed by the terrible earthquake that struck the region of Kerman on 26 December 2003. Its evocative atmosphere made it a perfect choice for the location of the film “The Desert of the Tartars”, based on the famous novel by Dino Buzzati.

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century before Christ and situated along the ancient Silk Road, the citadel of Bam, known as Arg, was surrounded by a rampart with 38 watchtowers. It was also known as the “the dead city” as it had been abandoned for the new city of Bam, located alongside it. It was precisely this evocative atmosphere that made it the perfect location

for the film “Desert of the Tartars”, adapted from the famous novel by Dino Buzzati. In the days immediately following the tragic earthquake of 26 December 2003, resulting in approximately 40 000 casualties, Italy was among the first countries to help by sending in emergency personnel and supplies and setting up a field hospital, which was later turned over to Iranian authorities. Italy’s intervention was not only limited to emergency aid to the population, but a project to restore the ancient citadel of Bam was also drawn up. An intra-ministerial delegation composed of MFA Director General for the Mediterranean and the Middle East Riccardo Sessa, Head of the Department of Civil Protection Guido Bertolaso, and Director General for Archaeological Assets of the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities Giuseppe Proietti, went to Teheran with the intention of programming further agreements with the Iranian authorities within the framework of the humanitarian aid and support action plan launched by the Italian government to alleviate the consequences of this tragic event. On that occasion, the delegation expressed its willingness to play a primary role, along with UNESCO and other Countries, in the reconstruction of the Bam fortress. In mid-February of the same year an Italian delegation composed of representatives of the Ministry of Cultural Assets and of the Department of Civil Protection made a six-day visit to Iran. They surveyed the ancient citadel, which had been almost totally destroyed by the earthquake, gathering information concerning the extent of the damage and the natur e of the earthquake. The delegation also attended meetings with those in charge of coordinating the interventions. Finally, as a follow-up to these events, on 28 September 2004 an initial meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the committee in charge of examining the timeframe, content and modalities for the international conference dedicated to recuperating the Bam fortress, to be held in Italy in 2005. The meeting, sponsored by the MFA Directorate for the Countries of the Mediterranean and Middle East and chaired by its Director General, Riccardo Sessa, confirmed the Italian government’s willingness to host the international conference. Delegations from UNESCO and the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organisation also took part in the meeting.

Iran. Bam. Following the tragic earthquake (6.3 on the Richter scale), Italy was one of the first countries to intervene with aid to the populations struck, sending emergency personnel and supplies and setting up a field hospital which was later turned over to the Iranian authorities.

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Afghanistan:

an Italian archaeology task force Although it is a land long battered and closed to the rest of the world, Afghanistan is, nevertheless a country with an extraordinary cultural, artistic and archaeological heritage that bears witness to the millenary encounter of various civilisations. Afghanistan is a country that can be fully brought back into the fold of the international community, restoring its pride in an historic patrimony often marred but never equalled. Archaeological activity is currently one of the most concrete aspects of Italo-Afghani collaboration. Italy’s collaboration has ancient roots and, perhaps for that reason, its resumption of interventions was not delayed after the end of military operations. Thus in January 2002 a Declaration of Intent was signed in Kabul by Minister Raheen Makhdum and then-Undersecretary for Culture Vittorio Sgarbi, the aim of which was to outline adequate efforts for the preservation and conservation of Afghanistan’s archaeological and cultural heritage. Shortly afterward, in May of 2002, UNESCO ran an international workshop in Kabul that contributed decisively to re-launching international aid for the country’s reconstruction. This occasion saw the reestablishment of the Italian Archaeological Mission (founded in 1956,

Afghanistan. Bamyan Valley. One of the statues of Buddha before being destroyed.

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directed by Giuseppe Tucci for the ISMEO – the IsIAO – and suspended in 1978) thanks also to a contribution of 73 000 euro by the Directorate General for the Promotion of Cultural Cooperation (DGPCC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a pilot project of several years’ duration. Then, in 2002 an emergency laboratory was set up for the identification, re-composition, cataloguing and restoration of the finds conserved in the Kabul Museum related to the Ghazni site, where restoration has resumed in the meantime of the Islamic and pre-Islamic sites Palace of Masud II, Buddhist Sanctuary of Tapa Sardar and Buddhist rock dwelling complexes. An additional 45 000 euro contribution in 2003 allowed work to continue on the recent excavations of the upper Logar Valley. Kafir Kot (Kharwar) – a city that has, unfortunately, fell victim to the latest illegal excavations – is one of the largest Buddhist sites in Asia, the pilot project for which used funding from the National Geographic Society as well. Various activities have been carried forward in 2004 within the pilot project framework: the excavations of Tapa Sardar (Ghazni), an important Buddhist sanctuary; the cataloguing and preliminary study of the finds of the current excavation; inventory of the finds of previous excavations and restoration of Buddhist and Islamic era artefacts from the Ghazni site; and, finally, a topographical study for the geo-referencing of the areas of primary interest, as a complement to the work on the Tapa Sardar and preparation for the drafting of an archaeological map of the region.

In May of 2001 the Taliban destroyed the gigantic statues of Buddha in the Bamyan Valley: the Great Buddha stood 53 metres tall and had already been shored up in Soviet restorations with concrete and iron rods; the Small Buddha stood 35 metres tall. The two statues were built between the 3rd and 8th centuries after Christ by Buddhist monks, who carved them into the rock overhanging Bamyan, in central Afghanistan, in an almost 2,500-metre-deep valley. With their oriental features and tunics similar to those used by the ancient Greeks, the two statues were an exceptional example of the fusion of art and culture. This unique symbol of pre-Islamic Afghani cultural heritage located along the Silk Road is marked by the manifold influences of Greece, Persia, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.

The remains of one of the Buddhas

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Italy, one of UNESCO’s blue-helmet forces Italy is a leader in the administration of emergency assistance to artistic and natural heritage sites both nationally and internationally, and for this reason its role within UNESCO is being redefined. A Convention has been drafted between Italy (Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities) and UNESCO that tasks our country with coordinating emergency interventions in cases of natural calamities or wars

thatprovoke serious damage to the world’s cultural heritage, a good example of which is the conservation work being carried out in the ancient city of Bam in Iran. The Convention consists of a joint Italy/UNESCO emergency intervention group called the “Blue-helmet force for culture” – made up of technicians, architects, engineers, art historians and archaeologists

Nepal. Interior of the Rajraieshwari. This splendid building is being restored by Italians and is only one of the many examples of Italian/UNESCO collaboration in the world.

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supplied by the Italian Ministries of Cultural Assets and Activities and of Foreign Affairs – that intervenes in countries affected by emergency situations and aims to ascertain and evaluate crises with regard to the cultural sector, and to identify the work that needs to be done. And that’s not all. Italy itself also has many sites registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The latest ones to be included (in 2004) were Cerveteri and Tarquinia and the Val d’Orcia. Italian sites included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites 1979 Rock drawings in Val Camonica 1980 Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci, Milan 1982 Historic centre of Florence 1987 Venice and its lagoon 1987 Piazza del Duomo, Pisa 1990 Historic centre of San Gimignano 1993 I Sassi di Matera 1994 City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto 1995 Historic centre of Siena 1995 Historic centre of Naples 1995 Crespi d’Adda 1995 Ferrara, City of the Renaissance, and its Po Delta 1996 Castel del Monte 1996 The “Trulli” of Alberobello 1996 Early Christian monuments of Ravenna 1996 Historic centre of the City of Pienza 1997 18th-Century Royal Palace at Caserta, with the Park, the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli, and the San Leucio Complex

1997 Residences of the Royal House of Savoy 1997 Botanical Garden, Padua 1997 Portovenere, Cinque Terre and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto) 1997 Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande, Modena 1997 Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata 1997 Costiera Amalfitana 1997 Archaeological Area of Agrigento 1997 Villa Romana del Casale, Enna 1997 Su Nuraxi di Barumini, Sardinia 1998 Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archeological sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula 1998 Historic centre of Urbino 1998 Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia 1999 Hadrian’s Villa (Tivoli) 2000 Aeolian islands 2000 Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and other Franciscan sites 2000 City of Verona 2001 Villa d’Este (Ti voli) 2002 Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-eastern Sicily) 2003 “Sacri Monti” of Piedmont and Lombardy 2004 Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia 2004 Val d’Orcia (Tuscany) Italy/Holy See: 1980, 1990 Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura For more detailed information: www.unesco.it

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Italy’s position in the recovery and preservation of the world’s cultural heritage is the fruit of close coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities. Placing the emphasis on this important aspect of managing Italy’s commitment in this sector is Giuseppe Proietti, Head of the Department for Research, Innovation and Organisation of the Ministry of Cultural Assets and activities who illustrates, in the brief interview below, the terms of the collaboration between the two ministries and the results it has yielded. “This coordination between the MFA and the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities – Proietti explains – is a major new introduction that was launched approximately two years ago. The Directorate General for Cultural Cooperation and Promotion of the MFA, directed at the time by Francesco Aloisi de Larderel, indeed introduced an important innovation with the creation of a consultation and coordination table between the two ministries for the evaluation of the funding of Italy’s archaeological missions abroad. This joint body has

MFA and MCAA: a successful collaboration

Interview

with Head of the Department for Research, Innovation and Organisation of the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities

Giuseppe Proietti now been institutionalised and meets periodically, thus permitting the increasingly reinforced coordination of Italy’s research projects abroad, thanks to the impetus of the current Director General for Cultural Cooperation”. Q. How are the other major interventions abroad coordinated, i.e. the projects Italy carries out through UNESCO? A. “There is very close coordination with the MFA in this sector as well and, in particular, with Ambassador Caruso, the permanent representative to UNESCO. Moreover, a work group has been created at our ministry that includes representatives of the MFA and the Ministry of the Environment, in which all Italian activities and interventions for the inscription of our monuments on the UNESCO World Heritage List are discussed and coordinated. Among the various activities that could be underlined is our offer of consulting in this field to developing countries”. Q. What are the most significant interventions currently under

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way, and what role do the various ministries play? A. “ There are obviously many, but especially noteworthy are those located in Iraq, Tunisia and China. In Iraq, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have supplied the new laboratories of the National Museum of Baghdad, for which Italy contributed funding of approximately 250,000 euro. At the same time, a group of Italian technicians and experts are training qualified Iraqi personnel on a rotating basis. Regarding Tunisia, we are working along with the MFA on the planning of the archaeological park of Carthage, which also encompasses the site’s two ancient ports – the military one and the commercial one.Finally, in China, with the support also of the Italian Embassy in Peking, we are restoring the Forbidden City: the ancient and grandiose imperial residence.

Peking. The Forbidden City: “Pavilion of Supreme Harmony”

The Forbidden City The Forbidden City was the residence of 24 emperors of the Ming and Quing Dynasties from 1421 to 1911. It covers an area of 72 hectares and is surrounded by an over 10-metre high wall and a 50-metre wide moat. The buildings contain a total of 9,000 rooms that housed approximately 10,1000 people, including eunuchs, concubines and handmaidens. The “Pavilion of Supreme Harmony” is the Forbidden City’s most imposing building, where official ceremonies, such as weddings or the crowing of a new emperor, were held.

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Asia and Oceania Afghanistan Organisation: Italian Institute for Africa and the Orient Pilot Project: Recovery and restoration of the archaeological finds at Ghazni and in the Kabul Museum Europe Albania Organisation: University of Bologna, Department of Archaeology Pilot Project: Research and excavations in the archaeological area of Phoinike (Saranda), Butrinto, Antigonea and surrounding areas.

OUTLINE

The most significant archaeological missions Mediterranean and Middle East Egypt Organisation: University of Rome “Roma Tre”, Department of Historical/Artistic and Archaeological Studies and Conservation Pilot Project: Analysis of the archaeological, artistic and environmental “text” of the Red Convent (Sohag – Arab Egyptian Republic) Jordan Organisation: Delegation of the Holy Land Stadium Biblicum Franciscanum Pilot Project: Conservation/restoration of the mountain mosaics (Siyagha, Mukhayyat, Uyun Musa) and technical training assistance to the students of the Madaba Mosaic School in the study and restoration of ancient mosaics; conservation of the Moses Memorial on Mount Nebo and turning it into a museum.

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Libya Organisation: University of Macerata, Centre for the Archaeological Documentation and Research of Northern Africa Activity: Completion of the analysis and restoration of the Arch of Septimus Severus at Leptis Magnus; arrangement of illustrative plaques. Organisation: International Centre for Archaeological, Anthropological and Historical Research Activity: Excavation, study and mapping of the architectural elements of the Temple of Flavius at Leptis Magnus. Organisation: University of Urbino, Institute of Archaeology Activity: Archaeological Park at Cyrene, new Sanctuary of Demetra, with archaic Doric-style temple, altar, portico, and theatre carved into the rock, with monumental propylaeum. A Greek theatre was discovered during the 2003 excavations. In 1999 the same mission uncovered approximately 20 large steps linking the Sanctuary with the Temple of Demetra. The theatre discovered at Cyrene is well-preserved thanks to the type of limestone of which it is made. The Department of Antiquities of Cyrene has expressed profound joy at this extraordinary discovery. Organisation: University of Rome “Roma Tre”, Department of Historical/Artistic and Archaeological Studies and Conservation Pilot Project: Leptis Magnus: museum of the Villas and coastal territory. Exhibition, restoration of finds and documentation. restoration, preservation and reinforcement of the Villa Silin. Syria Organisation: University of Rome “Roma Tre”, Department of Historical/Artistic and Archaeological Studies and Conservation Pilot Project: Excavation and archaeological research, restoration,

training and enhancement of the Tell Mardikh-Ebla site. Creation of the Archaeological Park of Ebla. Organisation: University of Venice “Ca Foscari”, Department of Euro-Asian Studies New Pilot Project: Project Shayzar: study and preservation of a Muslim castle of the Middle Oronte Region through an in-depth programme of historical, archaeological and architectural investigation integrated with technical analyses directly aimed at the site’s restoration enhancement. Autonomous Palestinian Territories Organisation: International South/South Cooperation Pilot Project: From Jericho to Jericho - restoration of the synagogue of Ayn AL Diuk. Tunisia Organisation: Turin Centre for Archaeological Research and Excavations Pilot Project: Design of the Nature/Cultural Park of “La Maalga” and of the Punic/Carthaginian Ports. Turkey Organisation: Turin Polytechnic Institute, International Department of Research and Documentation Pilot Project: Creation of visitor routes inside the ancient city of Hierapolis, aimed at improving tourist use of the site; excavation, restoration and reinforcement in the areas included in the routes and arrangement of information instruments. Yemen Organisation: Italian Institute for Africa and the Orient New Mission: Archaeological mission to Baraqish; excavation and restoration of a temple in the sacred area of the ancient Minean city of Yathill.